Brathwaite, Alleyne steady Windies U19s

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies Under-19s were trying to recover from a wobbly start, after Kurtis Patterson hit a hundred to give Australia Under-19s early control in their three-day “Test” on Sunday.

Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was not out on 28, and compatriot Anthony Alleyne was not out on 23, as the Windies reached 81-2, replying to Australia’s first innings total of 350, on the opening day of their match at the Global Cricket Academy.

West Indies were in trouble at 44-2, after opener John Campbell fell for 10 and Akeem Saunders went for 14, but Brathwaite and Alleyne steadied the innings in the last hour.

Leg-spinner Donovan Nelson had captured 4-58 runs from 14 overs, and left-arm medium-fast bowler Derone Davis 3-61 from 16.1 overs, after the Australians won the the toss and chose to bat. The pair ran through the Aussies’ lower order, following a purposeful 123 from Patterson and 75 from opener Cameron Bancroft.

Kyle Mayers had made the early breakthrough for Windies, when he removed keeper James Peirson for 32. But the Caribbean side were made to toil for their second wicket, when Patterson joined Bancroft, and they added 146 for the second wicket.

Leg-spinner Amir Khan bowled Bancroft, but the West Indies Under-19s continued to face resistance from Australia captain Sebastian Gotch before he was caught behind of Justin Greaves for 26. This sparked the Windies, and Nelson and Davis worked their way through the lower order with the Aussies’ last seven wickets falling for 76.

West Indies then suffered an early setback, when Campbell was caught in the slips off Corey McMahon, and Jacob Judd trapped Saunders lbw just when it appeared the Caribbean side were about to get into the swing of things.